It was seven days into a cross-country drive from Ohio and it was starting to pour rain. I’d been delayed for four hours in Arizona after locking my keys in my car at a gas station. I was tired, I was hungry, and I was extremely late for my first day on staff. While navigating the winding mountain road up the Banner grade, I kept thinking “What have I gotten myself into?” I was not feeling as upbeat as I normally do. The soulless voice of the GPS alerted me to my arrival at Camp Stevens.The rain calmed down a little and I slowly drove up the driveway, looking for clues about this new place. I saw the climbing tower and the ropes course I’d be working on. My bad mood started to wane. The rain all but stopped. By the time I reached the office, I was excited. I had arrived! I gathered my courage and wandered into the office. I expected it to be empty; instead, I was greeted with hugs and cheers from my new coworkers. Camp Stevens felt like a welcoming place I still didn’t know exactly what I had gotten myself into, but I was feeling much more upbeat about what was in store.

2012 marks the 60th year of Camp Stevens. Over the next two months – leading up to our September 2nd Open House celebration – we’ll be sharing people’s reflections on their first times at Camp Stevens. Share your story by emailing ashleyATcampstevensDOTorg.